The Youngstown Phantoms have named Ryan Ward as the sixth Head Coach in the program’s history. Ward comes to Youngstown from the Tri-City Storm where he was the Director of Player Development for the USHL club and the Hockey Director of the Windy City Storm, Tri-City’s youth hockey program. Ward also has experience as an Assistant Coach with the Soo Greyhounds (Ontario Hockey League) and the San Antonio Rampage (American Hockey League), along with stints in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, St Louis Blues, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

“We are ecstatic to have Ryan join the Phantoms,” said Co-Owner Murry N. Gunty. “Ryan is a talented, young, up-and-coming hockey mind that wants to play a fast paced, competitive, puck-possession style in Youngstown. When we opened our search, we knew that we wanted someone that was offensive-minded, creative, and passionate. We wanted someone that came from a coaching tree of successful people. Ryan has trained under the likes of Scott Gordon, Sheldon Keefe, Mike Babcock, and Anthony Noreen and has been involved with championship programs such as the Tri-City Storm, Soo Greyhounds, and the St. Louis Blues. He checked off all those boxes. From Tri-City’s Anderson Cup this year to the St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup in 2019, he has been affiliated with winning every step of the way in his career and we fully expect him to bring that mentality to Youngstown.”

 

“It is an honor to be named the Head Coach of the Youngstown Phantoms,” said Ryan Ward.  “I am ecstatic to work alongside our management and coaching staff, and most importantly, our players, as we usher in this next era of hockey in Youngstown. Our team will play a fast, skilled, in-your-face style that will be fun to watch. Our players will be aggressive, assertive, and unafraid to make plays. They will be hard to play against and will represent the City of Youngstown well.”

 

The Phantoms are also proud to announce that the contracts of Associate Head Coach Andy Contois and Assistant Coach Brandon Gotkin have been extended through the 2024-2025 season.

 

“Extending the contracts of Andy and Brandon was a priority for us and our program,” said Keith Primeau, President of Hockey Operations for Youngstown. “They have done an excellent job in guiding and developing our players and are immense parts of the future of the Phantoms. They are well respected amongst our ownership group and management team, and we could not be happier that they will be part of the program’s direction as we ascend the ranks of junior hockey and the USHL. These signings, along with Ryan’s, provide long term stability for our program and we cannot wait to get started.”

 

The Youngstown Phantoms and Head Coach Brad Patterson decided to go in different directions upon the expiration of Patterson’s contract at the end of June, the league’s calendar year.

 

 “I want to thank Brad for all he has done for the Youngstown Phantoms organization,” said Phantoms President Andrew Goldman.  “He has been the consummate professional and has developed elite hockey players and more importantly, incredible young men.  The Phantoms are in fantastic shape heading into next year and beyond and much of that is thanks to Brad’s years of tireless commitment to the team and to its players.”  

 

“Brad was an integral part of the Youngstown Phantoms fabric for the past thirteen seasons,” said Phantoms Co-GM’s Ryan Kosecki and Jason Deskins.  “He was a wonderful ambassador and example of what being a Phantom means. Brad is a first-class person and his contributions to the program will not be forgotten.”

 

Patterson began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Phantoms in the team’s inaugural season of 2009-2010 and was promoted to head coach prior to the 2016-2017 campaign. He will leave Youngstown as the Phantoms’ all-time leader in every major coaching category (games coached, wins, losses) and had a final record of 164-136-43 in the regular season, 9-11 in the postseason. Youngstown made the playoffs in each of Patterson’s first three seasons, as well as his final one, including an appearance in the 2018 Clark Cup Final. During the whole of his tenure in Youngstown, over 40 players signed professional contracts in North America and 13 Phantoms played in at least one NHL game, including Kyle Connor, Ryan Lomberg, Brett Murray, and Nathan Walker.

 

The Phantoms kick off their main camp from July 11th-17th in Pittsburgh, at PrintScape Arena.